Fuse



July 2s, 1925;

'w. l... LuKENs FUSE Filed March 14. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1" ofthe adjnstalffl type.

frase alla@ enclosed-'within the iwal-1S off ne :the projectile upon theta'rgetv aehortrinteiieac'li other and fleeing fini 'axial alignment jvpro'ject'ile'jiefadaptedfto .fbelzajdjuetedffrdm VWithon'tsovthat the projectileinay berca'nsed I ,to .burst'eitlier immediately'Liponilnpactjlof 4 .rival .of-.time aftertheprojectile trikes-'the A' Y Y target- -or ,a fs'hortinterizalottime/,before the "body O the projectle'has 4reached the target.

f'llreobject -ozfltherpresent invention is '.to lr,lprovlidefay fuse :constructed`rsnlastantially f alfongV the', lines ol the fuse disclosedy 2in 'the prior application referred 4to fbntli'avng im- "1 fproyeinl-intV incorporated therein which yrenit will be un'derstoodftliat' tliednwrentionfmay Vvhave Various ,forms vand 'is not liinitodftogtha't ig, 1 isjanV axial glolngritudinalfSection fthrongliifportonof Ia.Y,projeetile haVingtlie improved fuse.r incorporated therein, Y ithe 'v movable A parte offthensef/being illustrated in the positions"Whichgthey occupy 'before y' "the 'proljectile vi's vtired,

f fed' for `delayed detonat'ion ving the {parts in the positionsfwliichftliey y occupyaimlnediately aitie-r'tlie:projectile-has 'Struck tsrtarget; v Y i V Fig. '3 is a View Similar toA 'Figure :2 .but jsliowng :the ulse arranged to' *explodeV fthe projectile immediately upon irnpactmo'fan anticipator attached :theretorV whereby fthe rexplosion of .the projectile @is pi'oducedflbe- "f o: fjoreV contaot'fo'f-itswalls 'withjeheftargeq' Y .vention is discloeed by Way '.ffexaniple, lont tlieffusuev being'fa-djueb. t'o'therlear face'offtheblock"16;3' Normally f ian axial aperture inthe 'point y vofyvzilnicilry 'has 4'threaded en'gagernent` with the correspon.dingly threaded 'innerlwall of an ,axialV recessfn Y*the xprnner carrying memberY Cil CFI

and slidably fitting within these slots are lugs 34 of an adjusting nut 35. Nut 35 has a squared aperture 36 and fits closely around the squared shank 37 of spindle 30. The adjusting nut is maintained in the position in which it is illustrated in Figurel by means of a spring 38, the inner end/of which presses on the adjusting nut and the outer end of which abuts against a spring retaining nut v39 secured on the end of a Vshort spindle 40 projecting from the larger spindle 30.

The branch duct 2G leading from the axial duct 25 in the primer carrier communicates with a chamber 41 containing a delay powder pellet, from Vwhich chamber a duct 42 leads rearwardly to the rear face of the block 16. V The firing pin carrier block 15 supports a disk which disk is threaded thereto and which has the firingV pin 23 integral therewith. VDisk 45 is provided with apertures or conduits 46 leading inwardly and rearwardly and opening into an axial chamber 47 containing a magazine charge of flash powder. fChamber 47 has extending rearwardly therefrom Van axial channel 48 which not only passes through thevrear end of the firing pin carrier block 15 but also through a transverse bottom plug 49 threaded into the rear of the axial recess in head 13. Bottom plug 49 has a'cylin'drical flange 50 extending rearwardly therefrom, the-outer wall of this flange fitting closely against the inner wall of a cavity in the forward end of base 14 of the fuse.

The cylindrical chamber within the flange.

50 of the bottom plug and in advance of the circular face'51 of the fuse body, contains the shutter 52 which holds the detonating charge 53, as shown clearly in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. VReferring particularly to Figures 4 and 5 it will be seen that the shutter 52 is pivoted to swing about a screw 54, between the side wall of the containingrcavity and a stop pin 55. rlhe shutter is generally segmental in shape and is normally held in the position in which it is shownin Figure 4 by means of a spring pressed plunger 56. In such position the fulminate detonating charge 53 is eccentric to the axis of the shell and not in a position to communicate with either the axial passage 48 leading forwardly to the flash powder charge 47 or with the axial passage 57 leading rearwardly to theV chamber 58 which contains the booster charge of the fuse. Shutter 52 is held in this position by means of a plunger or inertia bolt 59 which is normally pressed forward by a spring GO into Van'aperture 61 in the rear side of the bottom plug 49. The inertia bolt 59 is also adapted to enter an aperture 62 and to lock the detonator shutter in the position shown Vin Figure 5, in which position the fuse is armed.

Normally the fuse is adjusted for delay action, as shown in Figure 1. Here, it will be seen, the valve 29 obstructs communica-- tion between conduit 25 and chamber 25. When the projectile is fired it is of course caused to rotate and during flight the centrifugal bolts 17 will fly outwardly so that forward movement of the firing pin carrying block may occur upon impact. Initial acceleration of the projectile causes the inertia bolt 59 to move rearwardly against the action of spring and to withdraw from recess 61. Rotation of the projectile thenoccurs while pinY 59 is withdrawn and hence the shutteror detonator carrier 52 is free to be moved laterally by centrifugal action into the position in which it is illustrated in Figure 5.. When this position is reached and acceleration hasl ceased, inertia bolt 59 moves'forwardly into recess 62 and the shutter is thus locked in this new positionwith the fulminate charge 53 in position to be ignited by a flame from the flash powder charge 47.

Uponimpact of the nose of the projectile on the target the firing pin carrying block 15 flies forwardly and the firing pin 23 fires the'primer 22. VF lame from the primer ignites the flash powder 24 and the flame from this flash powder in turn passes through `branch conduit 26 and ignites the delay pellet 41. This pellet is of such composition that it burns relatively slowly and a short interval of time elapses before the flame passes through ducts 42 and 46 to the magazine flash powder charge 47 the ignition of which results in ignition of the fulminate detonator charge 53 and nally the booster charge 58. The passage 57 is provided with a gas check cup 7 0 and the cha1n ber 71 in which the centrifugal shutter 52 is positioned, is of such strength that the fulminate detonating charge 53 may explode without causing detonation of the booster charge providing that the shutter is in the unarmed position, as shown in Figure 4.

To adjustV the fuse for non-delay action upon impact of the shell and target, the operator grasps the adjusting nut 35 and pulls it forwardly against the action of spring 38 until lugs 34 disengage slots 33 whereupon the nut, and hence the spindle 30, may be rotated and the needle valve 29 moved forwardly. As a result conduit v25 is brought Yinto direct communication with chamber 25 and duct 28 and the flame from the flash powder charge 24 may pass directly to the magazine fiash powder charge 47, so that the projectile is exploded instantly instead of by delay action involving the burning of the delay pellet 41. A stop pin 72 may be provided to limit the outward movement of the spindle.

To cause the projectile to burst before striking the target, the spindle 30 is advancedas before by means of the adjusting lnut so fthatthere.isunobstructed cominuj nication between :flashp'owder -24iandgthe t end of the nut 35.

magazine 'charge Vfand in addition the an-g 'ticipator pin orxsleeve 73 is fitted on-'torthe .i The end of this antici lpator strikind' the target arreststheforward .movement otthe'projectile and causes'th'e' l tiring pin carrying block to'move forwardly y 1o" n 4tile thereby results whilethe-fbody of the f found desirable.

so that the firing pin strikes theprimer and the instantaneous explosion of the projecprojectile'gis vas yet some distance rom'the *Y Y, target. Anticipatorsfof various lengths may be carried in quantities withrthe ammunition, and may be va-iiXed whenever' 1t is i- WhileI haveA shewnfthe primer carrying Y blocky 16 as having threaded engagement with the nose portion 135er the fusefit is obvious that this block may be formed integral with the nose 'of' the fuse if desired.

It is found more convenientto manufacture `the fuse with the primer carrier formed simplicity, cheapness and safety.y

v vOne skilled in the art will readily 'apprefV l ciate the advantagesfof the inventionand will also realize that the designand Varrangefrom its spiritand scope;

Y 'Having thus described the inventionjwhat is claimed as new andde'sired toY be Vsecured i l by Letters Patent is: 'Y

1.1In a projectile, thefcombinat'ionwith a body ofahollow ogival head secured to vsaid body, said headhaving an aperture therein,

Vafuseenclosed within said head and secured to ksaid body, vsaid fuse being adjustable for dillerent speeds. of action, anda 'control i memberfwhichfis normally rigid with respect to the projectile, engaging the fuse and projecting through saidl aperture bei yond-thevexteriorrcontouryof the projectile sojthat said member may be Vmanually op- Y i ,Y Verated to control the'action of thefuse.

2; Ina projectile, the combination with a body of a hollow ogivalfheadsecured'to the body,sa'id head having an aperture therein,

a useenclosed within said head andsecured` f to thel body, said fusepbeing Vadjustable for ldillerent ,speeds of action, a control member tion of the member jectile l y ment of the Acomponent''elementsV of the in- .fvention may ,be Vchanged without departing ywhich normally `rigdfwithI the i PlOjeOt-le threaded' to the fuseahlcl'proieCQ-l? ting through the l aperture- .beyend the con? tour of the projectile; so that said?v menrbl *I nayV be manually rotated to ,jelectalongitu dimi movement' .thereQfto fcorcrolii-he` tion of their fuse,yand lockingV means:en-r`VV gagingthe controlmeniber and f to normally prevent rotation of said'memf ber. j 3. -In a projectile, the combination with/a body ofa'hollowogival head secured tothe body, Vsaid head having anaperturetherein,

a fuse enclosed within the head and'secured to the body, 'said fuse b'eingadjustable `for different speeds of" action, .a control member ff normallyV rigid with respect to the projectile` v Y body threadedto the fuse andprojecting through said aperture beyondthe contour of I the projectile Iso, that said .member may .be

manually rotated vrto effect; liofngitudinal.V 1 i Y nmovementthereof to control theaction of thev fuse, a Vlocking means interposed b e-" tween the control `,member and'.` the .projectile t normally preventing yrotation iof"said-"mem-g` ber, and. an `anticipato'r .device detaehably mounted on `thelocking means.

,4. rIn a projectile, the combination ak Y vbody ofa hollowogivalhead scumdut ,therbody, said; head havinganaperture therein, a fuse'enclosed Within said head `'and secured 1 to thefbody, saidffuse being 'adju-stable. for.Vv Y

.diierent-f speeds" of actionfa iniember threaded-to a fixed portion of icontrollingfrthe actionfthereoff and ipro'jecting lthrough said aperture beyond theconu tour'offthe projectile, and 'Vai-'lockingv means interposed `between 'said member 'j and the projectile to normallyprevent relative'rota-fj with respect-to.. the pr'o-v A 5. In a projectile, the combination with bodyof a hollow ogival head secured tothe body, said Yhead having an aperture therein,

a.v fuse' enclosed within jhead "and il? Y if threadedto the body, said `fuse;bei'ngfaid'v '1 justable for, dilferent speeds otaction, an

anticipator device threaded in the fuse and prole-@ting thrmlgh said aperture beyond, -1

'the Contour 0f the PlfO'ieOtile so thatsad device may be manipulated to control the ,UGT tion ofv the fuse, anda locking Igf'leajrls't()7191"@l vent relative movementv betweenfV the anticipater Vdevice and theprojectile during lthe entire flightofthe latter.

6; In a projectile', the combination with a l body 0f a hollow ogivalkhread @Cured tothe ,Y

body, a fuse enclosed within jsaid",headj. threaded to the body, :an anticipator device"k normally rigid with respect to said bodyandfy and eprojectinjg'v threaded` in ysaid .fuse through said aperture beyond the contour of thev projectile,y and a locking device-en-` gaging the anticipatordevice and saidv heady "i said vlocking devicev beingreleasable soY that .y

the anticipator device may be manipulated and a member controlling the action of the to control the action of the fuse. fuse rigidly secured with respect to the 10 7. In a projectile, the combination with a projectile and projecting through said body of a hollow ogival head secured to the lplftue beyOlld the Contour of the pro- 5 body, said head having an axial aperture JeCtlletherein, a fuse enclosed Within the head and Y In tSlmOlly Whe-FQO I hereunto affix Illy rigidly secured to the body,7said fuse being Signature adjustable for diierent speeds of action, -WILLIAM L. LUKENS. 

